TODAY’S GAME
The Rangers will face-off against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden (12:30 p.m. — TV: NBC; Radio: ESPN 98.7), in an Original Six matinée matchup. The Blueshirts currently rank third in the Metropolitan Division standings, and seventh in the Eastern Conference, with a record of 34-26-4 (72 pts). The Rangers enter the contest having defeated the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-2, on Friday at PNC Arena, in a Metropolitan Division matchup. The Blueshirts have now registered a point in 14 of their last 20 games (13-6-1), and are 18-8-2 in their last 28. The Red Wings enter the contest with a 29-21-13 (71 pts) record to rank eighth in the Eastern Conference, and have won three of their last five games. Following the contest, the Rangers will return to action when they face-off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday, Mar. 11, at PNC Arena (7:00 p.m.), in their second meeting in five days.

RANGERS vs. RED WINGS:
• All-Time: 213-260-103-1 overall (136-94-58-0 at home; 77-166-45-1 on the road)
• 2013-14: Today is the third and final meeting this season, and the second of two meetings at Madison Square Garden. New York is 2-0-0 overall (1-0-0 at home; 1-0-0 on the road), following a 1-0 victory on Jan. 16 at Madison Square Garden. Each of their two meetings have been decided by one goal, including a 3-2 overtime victory on Oct. 26 at Detroit. The Rangers have out-shot the Red Wings, 33-18, in the second period, and have out-scored Detroit 3-0 after the second period. The Blueshirts’ power play is 1-5 (20.0%) in the series. Benoit Pouliot has tallied a series-high, two assists and three points, while Mats Zuccarello leads all skaters with two goals. Henrik Lundqvist posted a 38-save shutout in his only appearance, while Cam Talbot is 1-0-0 with a 1.85 GAA and .941 Sv%.
• Last Season: Did not play. In 2011-12, New York was 1-0-0 overall (1-0-0 at home; 0-0-0 on the road), following a 2-1 overtime victory on Mar. 21, 2012 at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers’ power play was 1-3 (33.3%) in the contest. Brad Richards tallied the power play goal for the Rangers, while Ryan Callahan notched the overtime game-winner. Henrik Lundqvist made 26 saves (.963 Sv%) in the win.
• The last 12 meetings between the Rangers and Red Wings have been decided by two goals or less, including eight contests separated by one goal
• New York is 15-15-4 at home; Detroit is 17-10-4 on the road
• The Rangers are 12-6-1 vs. Atlantic Division opponents; the Red Wings are 8-6-4 vs. Metropolitan Division opponents
• New York lists no former Red Wings on its roster
• Detroit lists one former Ranger on its roster: Mikael Samuelsson (2001-02 – 2002-03)

ORIGINAL SIX SHOWDOWN: Today’s contest will be the 13th of 14 scheduled games against Original Six opponents this season (7-4-1). Since 2005-06, New York has posted a record of 65-41-13 against Original Six teams, including a 3-4-1 mark vs. Detroit over the span. The Rangers’ .601 win% ranks third, trailing Detroit (.644, 50-25-12) and Montreal (.610, 90-55-14), and ahead of Chicago (.546, 41-33-13), Boston (.531, 74-64-24), and Toronto (.491, 68-70-24).

THE PUCK STOPS HERE: The Rangers defeated the Red Wings, 1-0, in their last meeting on Jan. 16 at MSG. It was the Blueshirts’ second 1-0 victory this season, having also defeated the Montreal Canadiens by a 1-0 score on Nov. 16 at Bell Centre. The last time the Rangers shutout the Red Wings was on Nov. 27, 1976 at Detroit (5-0), and the last Rangers shutout over the Red Wings at MSG was on Nov. 16, 1975 (3-0). John Davidson was in net for the Blueshirts in both shutouts. The last time the Rangers defeated the Red Wings by a score of 1-0 was on Feb. 4, 1971, at Detroit (Gilles Villemure). The Blueshirts have allowed two goals or less in 37 of 64 games this season, including 14 of their last 20 contests, and in 10 of the last 13 at home. New York is 29-8-0 when holding opponents to two goals or less.

SHOOTING GALLERY: The Rangers have registered at least 40 shots on goal in four of their last eight games, and have been credited with 302 shots in the last eight games (37.8 shots on goal over the span). The Blueshirts have out-shot their opponents in 10 of the last 12 games, and in 14 of their last 17 contests. The Rangers rank third in the NHL in shots per game (33.1).

SPIRIT OF ST. LOUIS: Martin St. Louis made his Rangers debut on Wednesday vs. Toronto after being acquired from Tampa Bay earlier in the day. He is currently tied for sixth in the NHL in goals (29), 11th in points (62), eighth in power play goals (nine), 19th in power play points (19), 23rd in assists (33), and ranks third among league forwards in average ice time (21:37). St. Louis recorded his first point as a Ranger with a power play assist on Friday at Carolina, and has now registered 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) over his last 22 games.

KING HENRIK: Henrik Lundqvist has allowed two goals or fewer in 11 of his last 16 games (11-4-1, 2.12 GAA, .929 Sv%, and one shutout over the span), and is 13-5-2 with a 2.28 GAA, .924 Sv%, and one shutout in his last 20 appearances. Lundqvist won his 20th game of the season with a 4-1 victory on Jan. 31 against the Islanders, to extend his streak as the only goalie in the league with an active streak of nine-straight 20-win seasons. Now in his ninth season, Lundqvist is one win away from the 300th of his NHL career, and two wins away from Mike Richter’s franchise record of 301 career victories.

MAC TRUCK: Ryan McDonagh enters the contest with a career-high, three-game goal streak (three goals), including a shorthanded goal in each of the last two games. He is the first Rangers player to record a shorthanded goal in consecutive games since Michal Rozsival on Nov. 17-19, 2007.

THE HOT LIST:
• Henrik Lundqvist – Has held opponents to two goals or less in 11 of his last 16 games (11-4-1, 2.12 GAA, .929 Sv%, 1 SO), and is 13-5-2 in his last 20 (2.28 GAA, .924 Sv%, 1 SO)
• Derek Stepan – five-game assist/point streak (one goal, six assists), and 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) in the last 15 games
• Ryan McDonagh – three-game goal streak (three goals)
• Martin St. Louis – 24 points (12 goals, 12 assists) in his last 22 games
• Brad Richards – seven points (three goals, four assists) in the last nine games
• Rick Nash – four points (two goals, two assists) in the last five games

Let’s see if the Rangers can surmount their dependence on RC’s personality and find their own…and their new leader, whomever it will be. Can they build on a 4-2 victory over a flailing team? LGR! LG MSL!

You are correct, iManny…that rare, beautiful NYC view across from Washingtn Heights will be forever marred by an LG Electronics high rise office tower (and mokre) if we don’t try to stop it…the local pols are all on board to balance the budget…ratables, ratables, ratables…rats, as far as I’m concerned. I will not buy another LG Electronics product unless they agree to a design (similar to the one previously on this site) that does not project above the tree line and is environmentally sustainable.

I see, that Artem Anisimov became a major scoring force for Columbus. He has Nash like 19 goals (and most GWG) and after good cognac long maturity, turns from boy to man (hockey wise). Good for him. Always liked him as a player and he has a good personality too.

Good for Stralman. If I’m him I don’t sign for $100k more than Klein either – not when he’s playing more minutes, ahead of him on the depth chart, is two years younger and with the cap going up. He’s earned a decent contract with improved play the past two years. I’m sure a team will pay him $3.5m per no problem.